WATCHING Liverpool's most recent outing, Ashley Williams was quick to get on the phone to Garry Monk.
As a 4-1 defeat loomed large for Chelsea, John Terry – one of the Premier League's most consistent centre-backs – was being made to look less than ordinary by the strike force the fellow Swansea City defenders are set to face today.
"We've all been there," read Williams' text.
As Swansea get ready to bring down the curtain on their brilliant big-stage debut, Williams' message could well be key.
Praise and patronising criticism has come in equal measure for Brendan Rodgers' side this season, yet neither seems to have affected a team that has gone about their business to stay in this division.
Facing the same stellar names that even the likes of Terry can struggle with, be it Liverpool or any other of the Premier League's big names, Swansea's squad of players, grounded at Stockport, Torquay, Wrexham, Carlisle and of course the dear old Vetch, have stood up.
After all, when it comes to being written off, they've all been there.
"I think that core of the team and the dressing room has come through at times this season," said Williams, whose performances this season belie the fact that it's not all that long ago he was a non-league player.
"If you've never played in the Prem obviously you don't know what it's like. I've often sat at home and slagged off this defender or that player. Then I thought, when we get there, we can see what it's like ourselves.
"We've got on with things and stayed grounded. A lot of us have been at the other end of football.
"There's no big egos because we've had that grounding and that helps us come together and get on with the job."
A job that few thought they'd manage. Hence why Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish will meet a few thousand 'Kings' of a different kind tomorrow, Brendan Rodgers calling for supporters to come dressed as Elvis after chances of staying up were likened to those of seeing the late music icon around South Wales.
"We knew people would write us off, but that didn't really motivate us," said Wales international Williams, named Swansea's clubman of the year on Thursday for his work in the community, including the fundraising for Hari Kieft, a two-year-old whose two heart conditions and spastic diplegic cerebral palsy left him needing an operation in America to walk. Hari will lead out the teams with Williams this afternoon.
"In my three seasons in the Championship, we were supposed to get relegated every time or at least struggle. We never did.
"It's something we're used to. I think it's just the nature of the game. Being down here in Swansea that happens and whoever comes up this year will probably be the same."
Pessimists' predictions of second-season syndrome is for another day.
Today, there should be a celebratory atmosphere generated by the en-masse Elvis tribute – and a win against Liverpool that could yet bring a top-10 finish.
"It's important to celebrate success," said Rodgers, although seemingly taken aback by the scale of response to the Presley party.
"The people of Swansea love to party, the achievements of the players this season have been phenomenal and Sunday promises to be a great day as we finish off what has been an incredible season."
One that could get better in its final throes. A win over the inconsistent but undoubtedly dangerous Reds would see Swansea in contention for a top-half finish that would really beat the bookmakers.
For that to happen, both West Brom (home to Champions League-chasing Arsenal) and Sunderland (home to title-chasing Manchester United) need to lose at the same time. Not impossible.
But, most importantly, Swansea need to be at their best. Celebrating the defying of odds is one thing, but Swansea have one last job to do this season.
"For us to finish in the top 10 would be an absolutely brilliant achievement," Rodgers said. "But Liverpool come here with plenty to play for as well.
"They will want to finish as high up the table as possible, and there is always a demand at a club like Liverpool to win games. For us to get anything from them we will need to be at full tilt."
Rodgers could well need to have his main centre-back at his best given Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll have finally started looking like a partnership to be frightened of, the latter the one to give Terry those problems in midweek.
"I've played against him a few times before and he looked really good on the TV the other night," said Williams of Carroll.
"He's one of those players that if he decides he wants to have a good game, he will have a good game.
"I look forward to playing against him, but every week there's a top striker — that's the beauty of the Premier League."
And why Swansea's achievements have been so remarkable given where they, as individuals and as a side, come from.
They've had to be at top levels all year to make it to survival without a sweat, the standards higher than ever.
"An important game was probably Villa away. That opened our eyes a bit and gave us a bit more belief," said Williams, reflecting on the campaign.
"As the season went on, after the first month, we decided we were here, we'd enjoyed the first few games, but we could give it a go.
"We could actually play well and pick up points because until you play in it, you don't really know what it's about.
"We had enough confidence in our ability that we could pick up points and do well."
Done well? That's an understatement.
Now for the coup de grace – or perhaps coup de Graceland.
n SWANSEA CITY have confirmed they will head to the United States as part of their preparations for the next Premier League season.
Brendan Rodgers' side will take on MLS outfits Colorado Rapids on July 24 and San Jose Earthquakes on July 31.
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